Making a living from reusing, reducing and recycling
One man who understands the value of recycling plastic items is Moses Setja who started his own recycling business.
POLOKANE – Glass, metal and paper are the most recycled materials in the world however, in recent times, plastic is giving them a run for their money.
Since plastic is not biodegradable, the alternative to reducing waste build-up and pollution, especially in the ocean, recycling is the next best option.
According to PETCO, the PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) Recycling Company, PET is an incredibly sophisticated plastic most commonly used to manufacture bottled water and cool drink packaging.
But after it’s been used, PET can be recycled into many new and useful products, including water bottles. It’s too valuable to be discarded.
One man who understands the value of recycling plastic items is Moses Setja, he bought a baling machine used to compress plastic and turned it into a lucrative business.
Moses started small, having bought only one machine a year ago, the machine compresses plastic into bales which gets sold to plastic companies that produce plastic products.
Plastic recycling includes taking any type of plastic, sorting it into different polymers and then chipping and melting it down into pellets.
After this stage, it can be used to make different products such as plastic chairs and tables. Soft Plastics such as polyethylene film and bags are also popular recyclable items.
Moses collects and buys most types of plastic.
The South African Plastics Recycling Organisation (SAPRO) categorises plastic as follows:
1. Ex-factory (pre-consumer): this includes out of specification product, under-sized or over-sized products and manufactured by-products such as thermo-forming skeletal and film edge trim.
2. Post-industrial: this catergory includes converters, fillers, installation sites, fabricators, printers, contractors, packaging materials from logistic companies, furniture stores and retailers.
3. Post consumer: this includes agricultural waste, woven- and grain bags, banana blue bags, insecticide and pesticide drums, fishing nets and crayfish traps.
Those interested in the plastic recycling industry can visit the SAPRO website for more information.
Moses urges people to get involved and gather plastic as it helps clean up the environment and is a great source of income.
